The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1887-10-10
A NEW SENSATION.
THE EXPERIMENT WHICH A CRANK
WISHES TO MAKE.
A Leap from the Top of Washington
Monument, and the Pleasure To Be
Derived TherefrOm-The Next
Best Thing.
washington Cor. New York SUM-


"Did you ever leap from a very high
place, and do you know what the sensation
is during the passagep
This was asked by a middle-aged man,
who with hundreds of others, was wander
ing through the monument grounds a few
days ago.
I replied that had no such experience.
'Then you have something to learn" he
said. "Have had it? Yes; but l am not
satisfied. intend to jump from the top of
that monument. It's more than $50 feet
high, they say l never leaped from higher
place than 10 or 100 feRt. 1t was from the
mast of vessel don't know exactly how
many feet it was. Did 1t hurt me? No,
not a great deal | struck feet fore
most in the water, and went under,
1 don't know how far, but a good
ways, for they had time to reach me after
l came up, little dazed, but amply paid
by the delights of the sensation during the
passage. l knew man who jumped from
a higher place and was so much injured
that he died; but he didn't understand it,
and struck hard on the water. 1t requires
skill and GOODNESS to do the thing rightly.
Capt. Luce, now admiral, went down forty
or fifty feet under the water when the Arc
tic sank. But that was not leap. He was
carried down by the suction when the ship
made the plunge. 1t was altogether diff
ferent experience. He could not help him
self, and had little chance to note how he
felt He had his little son in his arms at the
time and that took up his attention, no
doubt and the unhappy circumstances Of
the little fellow being struck dead
from his arms by a timber when
they rose probably drove from his
mind all recollections of what must
have been the agreeable sensation of going
down SO far into the depth of the ocean.
Luce told me that it was a terrible rather
than an agreeable experience. 1t was not
like jumping from a high place, perform
ance attended by sensations which nothing
else can produce. Things of accident and
design are always attended by different SEN
stations, you know. 1 have been looking
good while for q place to take great leap,
and have travelled a great distance to survey
the monument with the view to jumping off.
The distance from the top would give plenty
of opportunity for enjoying the sensation of
falling greater distance than any man has
ever fallen"
"But you would be killed and newer relate
your experience or enjoy an instant's recollec-
ton of the sensation"
eyes, that's true, perhaps, but Fl would
have all the delight while was falling, just
the same. That's what 1 want It would
compensate me. We all strive for pleasures
which have an ending after longer or
shorter time. fancy that the intensity is
proportioned always to the distance. Don't
you"
The mans earnestness increased, and he
assumed an air of mystery. He resumed:
"But may not be killed. Indeed, don't
mean to be. If / were l would not care.
Did know should would take the leap all
the same No man goes into battle or faces
my danger without some hope of coming out
safe. Generally he makes provision to that
end, (which, however faulty, affords him
hope. l will do the same. I've got con-
trivance, simple as an umbrella, and easy as
a cane to carry, which sprung at the right
in tant will land me like bird, whose wings
let it come down from any height in perfect
safety. / have never used it, but I believe
it will work If it don't it will matter little.
I will have the supreme pleasure of jumping
from the monument, and in the passage to
the earth experience the most delightful
sensation that man has ever had"
That the man was TSset in his mind was
evident. l encouraged nim to proceed, re-
marking that as the monument was about
completed he might be deprived of the COW
eted opportunity to make the leap. He said:
II was detained on the way. 1 intended to
make the leap about the last thing before
the workmen left the top. was there in
time for it, but could not get the chance.
Ny idea was to have Gen. Casey employ me
in some capacity that would take me to the
top, and at the last moment make the leap
in sight of the assembled multitude. Bot
/ shall do it yet. I'll find way, 1t is not to
immortaliza myself, or anything of that
kind, that / have in view, but solely the
ecstacy of the fall Of $50 feet to the earth
saving the few feet after 1 have spread my
contrivance for letting me down easy, or, as
l have said, to the utter extinction of
vitality which would otherwise ensue.
Gen. Casey will miss great opportunity if
he don't jump off, as his concluding act in
the construction. It would be an immense
feat. If the last man on the outside, when
he removes the last stick of the scafPolding,
instead of crawling through the opening to
come down inside, don't jumn, he will be
fool"
l suggested that the capitol dome would be
q great place to practice at leaping
"No," said he, "it wouldn't do at all I've
examined it. There are too many obstacles.
It's the sheer leap of $50 feet that will give
the sensations 1 want to enjoy. It takes ten
or twelve minutes to be hoisted UP inside of
the monument. i would expect to come
down in less than half a minute Think
what would be crowded into that brief space
of time-the exhilaration, the ecstacy of
falling from such height l will do it vet
1t viii be something will have all to myself
whether 1 light like bird or am crushed
into jelly"
To the question when he intended to take
the leap, he said: 81 mean to do it on dedi-
cation day, Feb. %. l will find way by
that time. Once on the top, and those open
ings not stopped, am sure to make the leap
If have to wait ten years I will do it. 1
was born to do it. What greater thing is
there in this world? It's my mission. If l
don't do it," and here the man drew near.
and in a low voice, with strange delibera-
ton, added-"if don't do it, if they won't
let me, will blow up the monument with
dynamite I've got it ready. know the
opening where charge can be placed that
viii bring the monument down to the last
stone. The work of thirty-five years will
tumble to the ground in five seconds It's
the sensation seek-the sensation of a leap